Top sports investors, brands, broadcasters, developers and innovators will be on celebration in Nigeria alongside their global counterparts come April 26 as the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) focuses on the industry in its annual World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD).
The theme of the 2019 WIPD is “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports” and the event will be marked in Nigeria with a special recognition/awards ceremony for institutions and individuals whose investments and contributions have helped in the sustenance, growth and enjoyment of sports, and a summit on “Intellectual Property Law and Sports Business.”
The event is being organised by the Friends of the Creator Foundation chaired by Dr Ogaga Ifowodo in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the National Film and Video Censors Board and the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
“It is especially instructive that the WIPO is focusing on sports business this year. It is in recognition that while athletes’ performance create the excitements, investors, sponsors and innovators play critical roles in the global propagation and in bringing diverse peoples and cultures together and supporting them to enjoy sports across societies”, said the Project Coordinator, Fred Edoreh.
“The event is significant towards strengthening intellectual property laws to protect sports businesses, and to appreciate and build the confidence and continued commitment of existing and new investors, institutions, brands, sponsors and persons whose investments and contributions keep sports going.”
While the organisers are keeping the list of awardees under wraps, expected as special guests of honour at the celebration are the Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, alongside top investors, brands and developers in Nigerian sports, and sports law experts including Abdukhakeem Mustapha (SAN), President of the Confederation of Africa Football Appeals Board, Chijioke Okoli (SAN), pioneer General Counsel of Team Nigeria and erstwhile Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, and Beverly Agbakoba-Onyejiana, sports business law advocate and investor.
The event will also be spiced with various forms of entertainment with the winner of the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 9, Okiemute Ighorodje, on the card.
